Working at the NAR

Our first mission, of course, is to publish America’s oldest literary journal, continuing an important national discussion since 1815. However, with the generous support of the University of Northern Iowa the North American Review(NAR) provides a superlative learning experience for people interested in independent literary publishing. We are uniquely situated to give genuine production experience with a magazine that goes regularly into the world. At the same time, we are also committed to the education and further development of the literary publishing community within the state of Iowa. This means teaching the concepts, skills, and ethics of independent literary publishing to ensure smaller voices can be heard in a world of fewer and ever-larger media entities.

What to expect:

Interested students will work in a relaxed atmosphere that people of many majors find comfortable and friendly. This easy-going environment belies the hard work and considerable experience the student will receive with us. Students who have had experience at the NAR find themselves sought after in publishing and communications. Immersion in literary publishing starts from day one. We train students to read and select manuscripts, track manuscripts, copyedit and proofread, lay out the magazine, and conduct the business of running a literary publication. We work to help students identify their interests and strengths in publishing and tailor their experience to their personal goals. Whether the student's journey is on to another academic institution, into the publishing world, or on to some other field, this is a great starting place. Of course, every one who works at the NAR receives credit on the masthead of the magazine, something to show the folks back home and to future employers as students move on in their career.

Time commitment to the NAR runs from a minimum 10 hours a week to a maximum of 20, with an average of about 12 hours a week. We ask 10 hours a week minimum because our experience has been that folks who work less than this have trouble retaining their training. One good strategy for students is to log in some extra time at the beginning of the semester to complete their training early on. The larger benefit of this strategy is that when time-consuming tasks unfold such as large assignments or major tests, visitors, illness, or other occurrences, the student does not fall behind in their time commitment or lose out on any part of their financial aid award. Of course, the student's job is to be a student first, so we don’t like to see students here much more than 15 hours a week in any circumstance. The maximum 20-hour-a-week schedule is generally reserved for visiting students who pursue the NAR internship from another institution.

Student life is complex, but scheduling is easy at the NAR. We are open from 8 AM to 5 PM Monday through Friday, excluding UNI holidays and breaks. We absolutely encourage that the student arrange their working times as it is convenient to their overall schedules. If something comes up, we can be very flexible as to what times the students work, as long as their commitments are met.

We know the students’ time is valuable, and are honored if they choose to share it with us. We couldn’t possibly pay them what their time is actually worth. However, we can go beyond the time the students spend at the NAR and help them during their first steps in their chosen career. We have served as references and written countless letters of recommendation for employment, scholarship, and creative writing programs. We are glad to provide this support in crucial times; it’s our way of rewarding the students’ hard work at the NAR. Incidentally, students who have worked for us have gone on to nationally distributed commercial publications, smaller independent publishing, to law schools, to PhD and MFA programs, visual design firms, national testing centers, and other fascinating careers too numerous to mention.

Qualifications:

We only ask for the ability to stop and ask questions when the student is unsure of what to do. We love questions! We don’t expect the students to know much about publishing—we aim to teach them that in short order. This work is entry-level and designed to give that crucial experience that will help students get a job and meet with success later in their life and work.

Interested in working at NAR? Consider one of the following opportunities:

Federal Work Study—As part of their financial aid package students might be awarded Federal Work Study. Students from nearly every major at UNI have worked here and gained valuable experience. We have welcomed students from Physical Education, Biology, Music, Information Systems, Public Policy, Communications, Philosophy, Natural Sciences, and English, just to name a few majors. If students have Federal Work Study, they can work at the NAR and be paid every two weeks. Contact Ron Sandvik, Managing Editor. Phone: (319) 273-6455 or email <sandvikr@uni.edu>.

Cooperative Education—Working with UNI’s Cooperative Education Office, and professors in the individual students’ majors, they can have the Cooperative Education internship. In some cases there is a monetary award, and the students can work at the NAR and be paid every two weeks. Students from a variety of majors such as Public Relations, Marketing, Finance, Information Systems, and Graphic Design have found this experience enriching and useful in their careers. Contact Mr. Al Stamberg, Director, the UNI Cooperative Education Program. Phone: 319-273-6041 or email <co-op.ed@uni.edu>.

Graduate Assistants—The UNI Department of English Language and Literature often works the NAR into graduate students’ assistantship experiences. No matter what their goals are, nearly all students have found that their time at the NAR gives insight into their professional field or valuable skills that readily transfer to their scholarship or creative endeavors. Graduate students should contact Dr. Samuel Gladden, Graduate Coordinator at the UNI Department of English Language and Literature. Phone (319) 273-2305 or email <samuel.gladden@uni.edu>.

English Practicum: Professional Writing—Working with Dr. Adrienne Lamberti, the student can receive class credit and valuable hands-on learning and real-world professional writing skills such as project management, editing, and design. Students who have taken this practicum have gone on to work in publishing and start their own magazines. Contact Dr. Ken Baughman at the UNI Department of English Language and Literature. Phone: (319) 273-6098 or email <kenneth.baughman@uni.edu>.

English Practicum: Creative Writing—Working with Dr. Vince Gotera or Dr. Grant Tracey, students can earn class credit while discovering the properties of a good manuscript, how to submit to a magazine, and the importance of document design in creative writing. Students who have had this experience report that it has helped them get their own work published more quickly than they had thought. Contact Dr. Ken Baughman at the UNI Department of English Language and Literature. Phone: (319) 273-6098 or email <kenneth.baughman@uni.edu>.

Internship: Visiting Student—Graduate and undergraduate students from other institutions are welcome to include the NAR as part of their course of studies at their own college or university. Students from schools such as Wartburg College and Central College have already benefited from this arrangement. A professor at the student’s institution will evaluate the student while we provide the experience. Students or their professor may contact Ron Sandvik, Managing Editor. Phone: (319) 273-6455 or email <sandvikr@uni.edu>.

Volunteer—The North American Review’s doors are open to students and community members who want to get publishing experience but do not fit the situations outlined above. Some community members have used the NAR experience and gone on to their own editorships or started their own presses. Contact Ron Sandvik, Managing Editor. Phone: (319) 273-6455 or email <sandvikr@uni.edu>.

Some people who might advise you about working at North American Review:

Dr. Vince Gotera

Creative Writing & Literature

Phone: (319) 273-7061

Email: <vince.gotera@uni.edu>

Dr. Grant A Tracey

Creative Writing & Film

Phone: (319) 273-3782

Email: <grant.tracey@uni.edu>

Dr. Ken Baughman

English Department Language & Literature Advisor

Phone: (319) 273-6098